The defendant was arrested and during police interview described the allegations as a ‘pure, disgusting lie’.

He said he was not sure if the girl had sat on his knee and denied touching her.

In a Probation Pre-Sentence Report, the defendant maintains that he did not sexually assault the girl.

However, he did not offer any explanation for why the girl accused him, other than a fall out between the families some time previously.

Passing sentence, Judge Philip Babington said it is ‘quite clear that this behaviour of the defendant did have an adverse effect’ on the victim.

He said she had a ‘period of heightened anxiety’ as a result but it ‘now much more like her old self’.

Judge Babington imposed a determinate sentence of three years, one year will be spent in custody with the remaining sentence spent on licence in the community.

Payne will also be subject to the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders Register for an indefinite period and to a sexual offences prevention order for five years. This bans the defendant from having any contact with the victim.

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